Access to Institutions

Reported concerns and deficiencies regarding prison operations, conditions and programs were
brought to the attention of Legislators on a daily basis through phone calls, letters and
in-person visits to their offices. One Legislator was reportedly turned away when he requested
to enter the Ohio Penitentiary to observe conditions firsthand. That may have been the reason
why, more than anything else, the legislative proposal to create the CIIC ensured access to the
prisons. It specified access to any prison and “any part thereof,” “at any
time,” “without prior notice.” That portion of the Statute has been amended
slightly to specify access “during normal business hours,” unless for cause as
determined by the Committee Chairman. The amendment was in response to complaints from the
prison staff that a Committee Member conducted inspections after the workday in the Legislature.
After travel time to the prisons, it was not uncommon for the Legislator to arrive in the
evening, spending four or more hours on site.

103.73. Duties of Inspection Committee.

The Correctional Institution Inspection Committee shall do all of the
following:

Subject to division (C) of this section, establish and maintain a continuing program
of inspection of each state correctional institution used for the custody, control,
training, and rehabilitation of persons convicted of crime and of each private
correctional facility. Subject to division (C) this section, the Committee may
inspect any local correctional institution used for the same purposes. Subject to
division(C) of this section, the Committee, and each Member of the Committee,for the
purpose of making an inspection pursuant to this section, shall have access to any
state or local correctional institution, to any private correctional facility, or to
any part of the institution or facility and shall not be required to give advance
notice of, or to make prior arrangements before conducting, an inspection.

Evaluate and assist in the development of programs to improve the condition or
operation of correctional institutions;

Prepare a report for submission to the succeeding General Assembly of the findings
the Committee makes in its inspections and of any programs that have been proposed
or developed to improve the condition or operation of the correctional institutions
in the state. The report shall contain a separate evaluation of the inmate
grievance procedure at each state correctional institution. The Committee shall submit
the report to the succeeding General Assembly within fifteen days after commencement of
that General Assembly’s first regular session.